Tobacco harvesting apparatus



May 10, 1966 E. s. ROSSER TOBACCO HARVESTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1963 INVENTOR 11501 0 d. [0.52901 y 0, 1966 E. G. ROSSER 3,250,405

TOBACCO HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I I I l 1 I BY WM g f ATTORNEYS y 1966 E. G. ROSSER 3,250,405

TOBACCO HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR Mari 2088092 United States Patent 3,250,405 TOBACCO HARVESTING APPARATUS Elbert G. Rosser, Rte. 7, Sanford, N.C. Filed Mar. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 265,192 6 Claims. (Cl. 2i45.5)

This invention relates to the harvesting of tobacco, and more particularly to a tobacco harvesting apparatus suitable for handling hand picked tobacco leaves. This invention further contemplates a tobacco harvesting apparatus a component of which, loaded with tobacco, can be assembled as part of a system for curing the tobacco disposed therein.

In the production of tobacco, a considerable amount of the harvesting and subsequent handling of tobacco is per formed by hand. Generally, it has been the conventional practice in the art for laborers, commonly referred to as primers, to hand pick prime tobacco leaves in the field and to either tie or otherwise secure the leaves on tobacco sticks to facilitate the handling thereof in transporting, storing or otherwise treating them as in curing. After the leaves have been attached to the tobacco sticks, they normally are transported by various means to a suitable building and hung for curing, wherefrom they are hauled to a tobacco pack house for storage. This practice has been found to be greatly time consuming, tedious and laborious, thus considerably increasing the cost of production of the tobacco. Considerable effort has been made to develop improved methods of handling the tobacco leaves during harvesting and subsequent thereto, although none have been found to be entirely satisfactory.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus suitable to facilitate the bandling of hand picked tobacco leaves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus suitable to facilitate the mounting of hand picked tobacco leaves on the novel tobacco rack.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus suitable for transporting and storing hand picked tobacco attached in the suspended position on novel tobacco racks.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a 'novel apparatus suitable for mounting, transporting and storing hand picked tobacco having detachable portions which can be removed to permit the remaining apparatus to be coupled with like apparatus and covered to provide an enclosed tunnel-like structure for flue curing of the tobacco being suspended from racks within such a structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tobacco harvesting apparatus which is relatively simple to operate, and which provides a less time consuming and laborious operation in comparison to conventional meth ods.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco harvesting apparatus which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation View of the present invention, having portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the invention, having portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken along line 6-45 in FIGURE 4, showing a section of the tobacco rack in the open position in solid lines and in the closed position in broken lines, and having portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of a system including a plurality of mobile units forming a part of the pres ent invention coupled in end to end relation with suitable means provided therewith for flue curing the tobacco suspending from racks within the units.

In accordance with the broad aspects of the present invention there is provided a novel apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves generally comprising a mobile unit having support means disposed therein for storing a plurality of racks on which there are loaded the tobacco leaves. A portable support means or platform being detachably mountable on the mobile unit is provided to facilitate the loading of the tobacco leaves on the racks. Retainer means is provided on the support means for loading the racks in which the racks are positioned during the loading operation. The mobile unit also is constructed in a manner whereby a plurality of such units may be positioned in end to end relation and enclosed with a covering to provide an enclosed tunnel-like structure through e which heated air can be forced to cure the tobacco leaves suspended from the racks within the mobile units.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention generally including a mobile unit It), a platform member 11 detachably mountable on a mobile unit and a plurality of rack members 12 which are adapted to be carried within the mobile unit. As best shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, the mobile unit is preferably of a welded angle iron construction comprising a rectangular shaped chassis 13 including a pair of lower side members 14 and 15, a lower rear end member 16 and a lower front end member 17. The chassis is provided with a suitable axle housing 18 disposed substantially intermediate the end members 16 and 17 for supporting the unit on an axle 19 having wheels 20, 20. Provided on the chassis are four corner post members 21 through 2.4, which support a top frame including upper side members 25 and 26, an upper rear end member 27 and an upper front end member 28. To further strengthen the unit there are provided intermediate post members 29, 29 interconnecting the vertically aligned upper and lower side members, having a top cross brace member 30 bridging the upper ends thereof. Cross braces 31, 31 reinforce the corner post members 21, 22 and 23, 24, as best illustrated in FIG- URE 3. Projecting forwardly from the lower front end member 17 is a tongue member 32 reinforced by a rail member 33 secured to the under side thereof and a portion of the chassis 13, having a hitch 34 on the end thereof. Disposed within the interior of the mobile unit and secured to the corner post members 22 and 23, and 21 and 24 is a plurality of vertically spaced support rail members 35 providing a pair of transversely spaced tiers on either side of the interior of the mobile unit, with respective rails of the two tiers being horizontally aligned. Each of the support rails 35 is preferably formed of angle iron similar to the other structural members of the mobile unit. Opposed pairs of rails 35 serve as a support means for supporting a plurality of racks loaded with tobacco leaves.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, each tobacco rack comprises a pair of similarly configured, U-shaped sections 36 and 37 formed of a tubular material having any suitable cross-sectional configuration. The section 36 is formed by bending a single piece of tubular material and consists of an elongated web portion 38, an end portion 39 disposed normal to the web portion 38, an end portion 40 disposed parallel to and having a greater length than the end portion 39 and a plurality of spaced pins 41 projecting from the web section 38, parallel to the end portions 39 and 40. It will be noted that the height of the pins 41 is slightly greater than the height of the end portion 39. The section 37 is formed similar to section 36 and consists of an elongated web portion 42, an end portion 43 disposed normal to web portion 42 and hingedly connected to the end portion 39 of section 36, an end portion 44 disposed parallel to end portion 43 and havinga reduced portion 45 adapted to be received snugly in end portion 40 of section 36 to retain the-sections in the closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Section-37 also is provided with a plurality of pins 46 projecting inwardly from the web portion 42, parallel-to the end portions 43 and 44. The pins 46 have a height slightly greater than the end portion 43 and are staggered with respect to pins 41.

The platform member 11 comprises a substantially rectangular shaped plate member 47 supported on a pair of diverging bar members 48 and 49 and a spaced coplanar, substantially rectangular shaped plate member 58 supported on a pair of diverging bar members 51 and 52, being substantially in alignment with bar members 48 and 49,

.respectively. As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5, the

widths of plate members 47 and are slightly less than the distance between the corner posts 21 and 22 of the mobile unit. Interconnecting the adjacent ends of bar members 48 and 51, and 49 and 52, respectively, are a pair of substantially U-shaped hanger members 53 and 54 opening upwardly and being in transverse alignment to provide a retainer or support means for a section 36 of a tobacco rack 12. It will be noted, as illustrated best in FIGURE 6, that the hanger members 53 and 54 are spaced a sufficient distance relative to each other so as to support a section of a tobacco rack, and the openings thereof have a sufiicient depth so that the ends of the pins 41 terminate at or below the plane of the top surface of plate members 47 and 50. Projecting laterally relative to the side edges of plate members 47 and 50 are a pair of U-shaped bracket members 55 and 56 which lie in a plane slightly below the top surfaces of plate members 47 and 50. Also provided along the side edges of the plate member 47 are vertically disposed bracket members 57 and 58, which serve to prevent leaves placed in the platform member from falling off either side thereof.

Mounted on the top surface of the plate member 50 is an L-shaped end stop member 59 comprising a fiat base portion 60 and an upstanding portion 61. The base portion 60 of the end stop is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots 62, 62 disposed adjacent the side edges thereof, each of which receive a bolt 63 either extending through an opening in the plate member 50 and having a nut threadedly fastened on the lower end thereof, as shown, or threadedly fastened to the flat plate member 50, which permits the longitudinal adjustment of the end stop 59 relative to the plate member 58.

Pivotally connected to the rear ends of the bar members 48 and 49 is a lever member 64 comprising aligned end portions 65 and 66, joumaled in bar members 48 and 49, respectively, converging portions 67 and 68, inwardly extending portions 69 and 70, parallel adjacent portions71 and 72, and parallel adjacent portions 71a and 72a formed substantially at right angles to portions 71 and 72, having a handle 73 secured on the ends thereof. As best shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the parallel adjacent portions 71 and 72 of the lever member are supported in a strap member 74 depending from the upstanding portion 61 of the end stop 59, and are adapted to be moved vertically between vertical guide portions 75 and 76 of the strap member 74. It will be noted, with reference to FIGURE 4, that the lever member 64 functions as an actuating means whereby converging portions 67 and 68 of the lever member are adapted to engage and lift the section of a tobacco rack resting on the hanger members 53 and 54 when the handle 73 of the lever member is lifted.

Disposed on the front end portions of diverging bar members 51 and 52 are a pair of laterally projecting that they may be inserted between a pair of horizontally aligned support rails 35 within a mobile unit forwardly of rearwardly disposed corner post member-s 21 and 22. As best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the platform member 11 is provided with a pair of brackets 78, 78 each extending laterally and fonwardly from the hanger members 53- and 54. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the end portions of the brackets 78, 7 8 are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the corner post members 21 and 22 of a mobile unit. In addition, it will be noted that the end portions of the brackets 78, 78 termina-te substantially in a plane normal to the plate member 50 passing through the front edge thereof. 1

In use, the mobile units first are hauled in sufiicient number to the tobacco fields to be harvested. The platform member 11 then is attached to the end of a mobile unit by tilting the rear end thereof upwardly and turning the platform about a longitudinal axis, to permit the laterally projecting lugs 77, 77 to pass between the rear corner posts 21 and 22 of the mobile unit above a selected pair of horizontally aligned rail members 35. After the lugs 77, 77 have been inserted within the mobile unit, the platform member 11 is turned in the opposite direction so that the lugs '77, 77 rest on the selected rail members. The rear end of the platform member then is lowered so that the bracket members 78, 78 engage the corner post members 21 and 22 of the mobile unit to prevent the support means from swinging downwardly, thus maintaining the platform horizontal.

As soon as .the platform member is suitably attached to a mobile unit, as described, an operator stationed within the mobile unit then places a tobacco rack on the platform, as best illustrated in FIGURE 6, so that a section 36 rests on the web portions of hanger members 53 and 54, and the section 37 is swung in the open position and the end portion 43 thereof is permitted to rest on a laterally projected bracket member 55. The tobacco rack then is ready for the attaching of the tobacco leaves. As each primer picks an armful of tobacco leaves, he then carries them to the rear end of the platform member and spreads the leaves across the opening between the plate members 47 and 50, and moves them against the upstanding portion 61 of the end stop 59. After the tobacco leaves have been properly positioned on the platform member, the operator within the mobile unit lifts the lever member 64 by means of the handle 73 placed Within the moblie unit on a pair of horizontally aligned rail members 35. This procedure is repeated until the entire mobile unit has been loaded with tobacco racks having tobacco leaves attached thereto in the manner as described. As soon as the mobile unit is completely loaded, the operator having exited from the mobile unit, then removes the platform member by lifting the rear end thereof, turning the same about a longitudinal axis, and moving the platform away from the mobile unit, thus detaching the same therefrom. The platform then can be attached to another mobile unit to repeat the same procedure for loading another mobile unit.

When the desired number of mobile units are completely loaded with tobacco racks, they either may be hauled to barns for curing, or may be coupled in end to end relation, as shown in FIGURE 8, in the field or in any other suitable area for curing the tobacco within the mobile units. Specifically, as shown in FIGURE 8, the mobile units may be coupled in end to end relation and covered by a suitable covering means 79 along the entire length thereof, .to provide a substantially tunnel-like structure. One end of the tunnel-like structure is provided with a heating unit 80 and the opposite end thereof is provided with an exhaust unit 81, which cooperate to force hot air through .the tunnel structure. The heating unit 80 comprises a frame 82 mounted on a pair of wheels 83, 83 and an enclosure 84 mounted on the frame 82. The enclosure 84 is provided with a front opening substantially the size of an end of a mobile unit, and also with suitable means for attaching the enclosure 84 to an end of a mobile unit. The from opening in the enclosure is provided with a pair of sliding panels 85 and 86 which are mounted in overlapping relation so that the panels may he slid vertically relative to each other to vary the size of the opening at the top and the bottom of the enclosure leading to the interior of the tunnel structure. Disposed within the enclosure 84 is an electrical heat source 87 which heats air drawn into the enclosure through an intake port 88.

The exhaust unit 81 essentially comprises an enclosure 89 having front and rear openings and a suitable means for attaching the rear end thereof to an end of a mobile unit. The rear opening of the enclosure, communicating with the interior of the mobile unit to which it is attached has substantially the same size as the open end of the mobile unit and is further provided with a pair of vertically disposed sliding panels 90 and 91 which are adapted to he slid in overlapping relation to vary the size of the opening at the top and the bottom of the enclosure 89 similar to panels 85 and 86 in the heating unit. Positioned adjacent the front opening of the enclosure is an exhaust fan 91 suitably driven by a variable speed motor 92 supported within the enclosure.

In utilizing the mobile units coupled in end to end rela tion for curing the tobacco loaded therein, the mobile units are first coupled together in end to end relation and covered by the covering means 79 to provide the tunnellike structure. The heating unit 80 is then attached to one end of the train of mobile units with the sliding panels 85 and 86 properly adjusted to provide the desired size and location of the openings leading into the tunnel structure. The exhaust unit 81 is then attached to the opposite end of the train of mobile units, also having its panel members 90 and 91 suitably adjusted in overlapping relation to provide the desired amount and location of the openings leading into the tunnel structure. The electrical heat source 87 and the exhaust fan motor 92 are then energized so that air is drawn through the intake 81, heated by the heat source 87, passed through the tunnel structure and exhausted through the front opening of the exhaust unit 81. It will be appreciated that the vertical positions of the panel members provided in the heating and exhaust units adjacent the ends of the tunnel structure can be adjusted to control the path of heated air flow through the tunnel structure. The velocityof the air flow can 'be controlled by adjusting the speed of the exhaust fan motor and the temperature can be controlled by regulating the energization of the electrical heat source.

The covering means 79 can be constructed of any suitable insulating material, which will prevent the escape of heated air to the atmosphere. Additionally, any suitable material can be provided for the construction of the heating unit 80 and the exhaust unit 81, although an angle iron framework with a sheet metal enclosure is preferred. From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves comprising a mobile unit, a first support means for loading tobacco racks with tobacco leaves detachably mountable on said mobile unit, a plurality of tobacco racks each comprising a pair of elongated sections hingedly connected at one end and having mutually securing means at the opposite end thereof, each of said tobacco racks having means for attaching a plurality of tobacco leaves, said first support means having retainer means for retaining a first section of one of said tobacco racks when in the open position and the second rack section is disposed out of the retainer means and movable toward said first rack section, actuating means engageable with said first rack section when disposed in said retainer means for moving said first section toward the second rack section to the closed position when a plurality of tobacco leaves have been placed on said first support means across said retainer means, between said rack sections, and said second section simultaneously is swung toward said first section to the closed position whereby said tobacco leaves are attached to said rack and second support means disposed with-in said mobile unit for storing a plurality of said tobacco racks loaded with tobacco leaves.

2. An apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves comprising a mobile unit, a plurality of tobacco racks each comprising a pair of elongated sections hingedly connected at one end and having mutually securing means at the opposite end thereof, each elongated section having a row of pins extending toward and staggered relative to the row of pins on the opposite section and projecting therebeyond in overlapping relation, a first support means for loading said tobacco racks with tobacco leaves comprising a pair of spaced coplanar, horizontal plate members, depending means for supporting a section of one of said tobacco racks between said plate members so that the row of pins of said supported rack section extend upwardly and terminate below the plane including the top surfaces of said plate members, actuating means engageable with said supported rack section for moving the same toward the opposite hinged section thereof to the closed position when a plurality of tobacco leaves have been placed on said first support means and spread across the space between said plate members, and the opposite section of said tobacco rack simultaneously is swung toward said rack section engaged by said actuating means whereby said tobacco leaves are pinned to said tobacco rack and means for detachably securing said first support means on said mobile unit, and second support means disposed within said mobile unit for storing supporting a plurality of said tobacco racks loaded with tobacco leaves.

'3. An apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves comprising a mobile unit, a plurality of tobacco racks each comprising a pair of elongated sections hingedly connected at one end and having mutually securing means at the opposite end thereof, each elongated section of said tobacco racks having a row of pins extending toward the opposite section thereof and staggered relative to the row of pins on the opposite section and projecting therebeyond in overlapping relation, a first support means for loading said tobacco racks with tobacco leaves comprising a pair of spaced coplanar plate members, a pair of transversely spaced U-shaped hanger members each having side portions and a connecting bottom portion depending from and bridging the spaced plate members, said hanger members opening upwardly and having a depth sufiicient so that when a section of one of said tobacco racks is sup ported on the bottom portions of said hanger members with the pins of said section extending upwardly said pins terminate below the plane including the top surfaces of said plate members, actuating means engageable with said last mentioned section of said tobacco rack supported on the bottom portions of said hanger members for lifting said section upwardly toward the second hinged section thereof to the closed position when a plurality of tobacco leaves have been placed on said plate members and spread across the space between said plate members, and the opposite section of said tobacco rack simultaneously is swung toward said section engaged by said actuating means whereby said tobacco leaves are pinned to the tobacco rack and means for detachably securing said first support means on said mobile unit, and second support means disposed within said mobile unit for storing a plurality of said tobacco racks loaded with tobacco leaves.

4. An apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves comprising a mobile unit, a plurality of tobacco racks each comprising a pair of elongated sections hingedly connected at one end and having mutually securing means at the opposite end thereof, each elongated section of said tobacco racks having a row of pins extending toward and staggered relative to the row of pins on the opposite section and extending therebeyond in overlapping relation, a'first support means for loading tobacco leaves on said tobacco racks comprising a pair of spaced coplanar plate members, a pair of transversely spaced U-shaped hanger members each having side portions and a connecting bottom portion depending from and bridging the spaced plate members, said hanger members opening upwardly and having a depth sufiicient so that when a section 'of one of said tobacco racks is supported on the bottom portions of said hanger members with the pins of said section extending upwardly said pins terminate below the plane including the top surfaces of said plate members, lever means operatively connected to theunder side of a plate member and engageable with a section of a tobacco rack supported on the bottom portions of said hanger members for lifting said last mentioned section upwardly toward the opposite section thereof to the closed position when a plurality of tobacco leaves have been placed on said plate members and spread across the space between said plate members and the opposite section of said tobacco rack is simultaneously swung toward said section engaged by said lever means whereby said tobacco leaves are pinned to the tobacco rack, means for resting said lever means when out of engagement with a rack section supported on said hinge members and means for detachably securing said first support means on said mobile unit, and second support means disposed within said mobile unit for storing a plurality of 1 said tobacco racks loaded with tobacco leaves.

5. An apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves comprising a mobile unit, a plurality of tobacco racks each comprising a pair of elongated sections hingedly connected at one end and having mutually securing means at the opposite end thereof, each elongated section of said tobacco racks having a row of pins extending toward and staggered relative to the row of pins on the opposite section and projecting therebeyond in overlapping relation, a first support means for loading said tobacco racks with tobacco leaves comprising first and second coplanar plate members spaced apart to provide an elongated transverse opening, a pair of transversely spaced U-shaped hanger members each having side portions and a connecting bottom portion depending from and bridgingthe spaced plate members, said hanger members opening upwardly and having a depth suflicientso that when a section of one of said tobacco racks is supported on the bottom portions of said hanger members with the pins of said section extending upwardly said pins terminate below the plane including the top surfaces of said plate members, an end stop means adjustable in a direction normal to the length of the opening between said plate members mounted on the top surface of said first plate member of said first support means, lever means operatively connected to the under side of said'second plate member of said first support means and engageable with a section of a tobacco rack supported on the bottom portions of said hanger members for lifting said last mentioned section upwardly toward the opposite section thereof to the closed position when a plurality of tobacco leaves have been placed on said plate member and spread across the space between said plate members so that the stem portions thereof abut said end stop means and the opposite section of said tobacco rack is simultaneously swung toward said section engaged by said lever means whereby said tobacco leaves are pinned to the tobacco rack, means for resting said lever means depending from said end stop means and means for detachably securing said first support means on said mobile unit, and second support means disposed within said mobile unit for storing a plurality of said tobacco racks loaded with tobacco leaves.

6. An apparatus for handling hand picked tobacco leaves comprising a mobile unit having front and'rear ends, said unit having two pairs of longitudinally spaced corner post members and a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinally extending support rail members disposed within said unit on both sides thereof and secured to pairs of said corner posts, said support rail members being in horizontal alignment and adapted to support a plurality of racks loaded with tobacco leaves, a plurality of tobacco racks each comprising first and second sections, each formed of a single tubular material, said first section having a web portion, a first end portion disposed normal to the web portion thereof, a second end portion disposed parallel to the first end portion thereof and a row of pins mounted on said web portion and disposed parallel to the end portions thereof, said rows of pins of said first section having a height slightly greater'than the height of said first end portion thereof, said second section of said tobacco rack having an elongated web portion, a first end portion hingedly connected to the first end portion of said first member thereof, a second end portion with a reduced end receivable in the end of said second end portion of said first section thereof and a row of pins mounted .on said web portion thereof extending toward and staggered relative to the row of pins on said first section thereof, said row of pins of said second section thereof having a height slightly greater than the first end portion of said second section thereof, a first support means for loading said tobacco leaves comprising first and second coplanar plate members spaced longitudinally to provide an elongated transverse opening, said plate members having a width slightly less than the distance between a pair of rearwardly disposed corner post members of said mobile unit,

a pair of transversely spaced U-shaped hanger members having side portions and a bottom portion depending from and bridging the spaced plate members, said hanger members opening upwardly and having a depth sufficient so that when a section of one of said tobacco racks is supported on the bottom portions of said hanger members with the pins of said section extending upwardly said pins terminate below the plane including the top surfaces of said plate members, a pair of laterally projecting U-shaped brackets mounted on said first support means adjacent the ends of said transverse opening between said plate members, a pair of laterally extending lugs disposed on the front end of said first support means, each hanger member having a laterally and forwardly extending brace member engageable with a rearwardly disposed corner post member of said unit when said laterally projecting lug members are disposed within the mobile unit and engage the inner surfaces of said rearwardly disposed corner post members, longitudinally v adjustable end stop means mounted on the top surface of said first platemember of said first support means, lever means operatively connected to the under side of said second plate member and engageable with a section of a tobacco rack supported on the bottom portion of said hanger members for lifting said last mentioned rack section upwardly toward the opposite rack section thereof to the closed position when a plurality of tobacco leaves have been placed on said plate members and spread across the space between said plate members with the stem portions thereof abutting said end stop means and the opposite section of said tobacco rack is simultaneously swung toward said section engaged by said lever means whereby said tobacco leaves are pinned to the tobacco rack and means for resting said lever means depending from said end stop means, and said pairs of horizontally aligned support rail members within said mobile unit being transversely spaced 2. distance substantially equal to the length of said tobacco racks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Dudley 2l1-59 Saedeleer 131134 Boyette 214-55 Long 214--5.5 X Mish.

Mish 2145.5

FOREIGN PATENTS France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

NORMAN YUDKOFF, Examiner.

J. SOFER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING HAND PICKED TOBACCO LEAVES COMPRISING A MOBILE UNIT, A FIRST SUPPORT MEANS FOR LOADING TOBACCO RACKS WITH TOBACCCO LEAVES DETACHABLY MOUNTABLE ON SAID MOBILE UNIT, A PLURALITY OF TOBACCO RACKS EACH COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SECTIONS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ONE END AND HAVING MUTUALLY SECURING MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, EACH OF SAID TOBACCO RACKS HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHING A PLURALITY OF TOBACCO LEAVES, SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEANS HAVING RETAINER MEANS FOR RETAINING A FIRST SECTION OF ONE OF SAID TOBACCO RACKS WHEN IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THE SECOND RACK SECTION IS DISPOSED OUT OF THE RETAINER MEANS AND MOVABLE TOWARD SAID FIRST RACK SECTION, ACTUATING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIRST RACK SECTION WHEN DISPOSED IN SAID RETAINER MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST SECTION TOWARD THE SECOND RECK SECTION TO THE CLOSES POSITION WHEN A PLURALITY OF TOBACCO LEAVES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEANS ACROSS SAID RETAINER MEANS, BETWEEN SAID RACK SECTIONS, AND SAID SECOND SECTION SIMULTANEOUSLY IS SWUNG TOWARD SAID FIRST SECTION TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEREBY SAID TOBACCO LEAVES ARE ATTACHED TO SAID RACK AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID MOVABLE UNIT FOR STORING A PLURALITY OF SAID TOBACCO RACKS LOADED WITH TOBACCO LEAVES. 